Battling cancer patient Jakup Mehmedi is back home and fighting fit after his life-saving bone-marrow transplant.

Battling cancer patient Jakup Mehmedi is back home and fighting fit after his life-saving bone-marrow transplant.

Just two weeks after the vital operation, Jakup has returned to the family home in Wallsend to recuperate with daughter Emma and wife Elizabeth.

Jakup, who had only months to live until an emotional appeal in the Chronicle by little Emma back in January, now has every chance of ridding his body of the cancer.

Doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, were amazed by his recovery from the transplant, and he left hospital in record time.

Jakup, 33, of Ribblesdale, said: "It's great, I'm so pleased to be home and back with Elizabeth and Emma. I feel great, I'm the same man I was before, and now I just want to thank everyone who's helped and supported me.

"The readers of the Chronicle have been absolutely fantastic. They've saved my life, and I can't say how grateful I am to everyone in the North East.

"The Chronicle was the first to support me and I'm so happy things have worked out well.

"Lots of people have been sending me cards and everyone has looked after my brother, Adnan, while he's been in the region.

"The hospital staff were fantastic as well. They've done such a good job. I'll be going back to the hospital quite regularly, but hopefully not to stay in any more."

Adnan, 40, was found to be an almost perfect match for his brother's transplant after Emma's campaign For the Love of My Daddy in the Chronicle.

A mystery businessman paid to fly Adnan to the North East from his homeland, Macedonia, after reading of Jakup's plight.

Despite a TB scare involving Adnan, Jakup had the operation in the last week of April. Now he is back with his family and on the road to recovery.

Wife Elizabeth, 32, said: "It's a big relief having Jakup back, but a bit of a strange feeling at the same time.

"Obviously I'm happy he's home, but when he was in hospital I felt he was safe whereas now I'm a bit apprehensive. Hopefully everything will be OK, though.

"We had no idea he would be coming out so soon, but when the doctor did his blood tests it showed he was strong enough to leave without being in danger of contracting an infection.

"As we didn't know until the last minute, we just turned up to pick Emma up from school together and she was absolutely over the moon."